NCJ Number
215327
Journal
Forensic Examiner Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: Spring 2006 Pages: 47-49
Date Published
2006
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the procedures followed and lessons learned from the use of dental identification of victims of the tsunami of 2004.
Abstract
The tsunami killed over 250,000 people, including more than 5,500 in southern Thailand. The Thai Government issued an urgent request for assistance from the international community. Within a day, an initial dental disaster-victim-identification (DVI) team composed of two Australian forensic odontologists came to the scene. Over the next few months, the number of volunteers and national teams involved in victim identification increased, representing over 30 countries. The work was done in two-dentist teams within each mortuary line, with a "super dentist" charged with overseeing quality assurance. The teams limited radiography to a pair of posterior bitewing radiographs and X-rays on any other features of interest. Polaroid photos were taken of the anterior dentition in edge-to-edge view, along with the occlusal tables of the left and right posterior teeth. A pair of unrestored posterior teeth was extracted for DNA profiling. This protocol was later changed to anterior teeth, then to the collection of a bone sample from the iliac crest, and finally to the removal of a piece of rib. In addition to finding that having a "super dentist" and taking photographs were crucial to the identification process, three other major lessons were learned. First, there must be an overall dental DVI commander in charge of a bite and under whose direction regular debriefings are held to address problems and issues. Second, all operators must be aware of the negative effects that can result from inexperience and burnout. Third, given the variety of standards used to dentally age children in different parts of the world, a single method must be adopted on evidence-based principles. 6 references